Growing Cities Influx of people Deplorable living conditions Rise of political machines

How cities grew Besides waves of immigrants, many Americans were migrating from debt-ridden farms to cities in order to find economic opportunity – million farmers went to the cities –Percentage of population living on farms fell from 72 to 54 percent Great Migration of southern black Americans begins during the period of urban expansion

How cities grew Suburbs –Developments in transportation, especially, trains, either elevated or subways, allowed cities to expand out. Elevators –Invention that allowed for the development of many storied buildings because people and material could be moved up and down in the building easily. Steel building frames –Allowed building to move beyond conventional building because of its strength

Urban Living Conditions More people meant the need for more places to live –Empty homes vacated by people moved to the suburbs were divided for use by many families –Tenements, low-cost apartment buildings, were built Poorly built, lacking ventilation, open sewers “death traps, closely built, jammed together with no side openings with no fire protection whatsoever”

Urban Living Conditions Can have a ghetto without a slum but can’t have a slum without a ghetto –Ghettos are areas dominated by one ethnic or racial group –Slums were areas dominated by the poor almost exclusively living in tenements –Restrictive covenants made sure that certain groups would not move into an area Close living conditions resulted in tragedies –Epidemics of contagious diseases (cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, diphtheria, typhoid) –Devastating fires destroyed lives and cost millions Chicago 1871 – 250 dead,18,000 buildings destroyed, $200 million in damages

Rise of Political Machines In order to provide proper services to rising urban populations, cities raised taxes –Competition developed between groups representing immigrants and the rich still living in cities –Political machines develop in order to maintain one particular party in power to control the new “wealth” Headed by one strong leader – the “boss” Most famous is William “Boss” Tweed of New York City Usually helped other win political office but controlled the machine from the sidelines

Rise of Political Machines Political Machines worked because they worked through a system of favors similar to the spoils system –Ward leaders handed out city jobs and contracts to residents for future support of the machine’s candidates on election day –Individuals or companies wanting a favor from the city could get it by first paying money to the machine Graft or the use of one’s job to gain profit was a major source of income for the machines Graft was a source of criticism from journalists of the time

Rise of Political Machines Blame for the political machine often falls on the immigrants who populated the wards. Immigrants tended to favor political machines because the machines helped poor people at a time when big business and government would not. What core democratic value is violated by the existence of political machines? Why?